Adjustable cam



Jan. 23, 1940. v E. P. DORMAN ADJUSTABLE CAM Filed Feb. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E F. D r 777812 Attorneys Jan. 23, 1940. E, p DQRMAN 2,188,108

ADJUSTABLE CAM Filed Feb. 1'7, 1939 2 Shee tS Sheet 2 22c P 30 226 10 E, F. Dorrmzn A ttorngys Patented Jan. 23, 1940 umrsn stares PATENT; orricr.

' ADJUSTABLE CAM Application February ,17, 1939,Serial No. 257,017 In Great Britain April 26, 1938 8 Claims.

This invention relates to adjustable cams of the type that comprise a flexible membermade up of a plurality of pivotally interconnected sections and has particular reference to adjustable cams of curved form'suitable for varying the path of travel of movable objects.

The invention is of generalusebut is more particularly applicable for use with forming machines for glassware of the type in which the cam is maintained stationary and controls the path traversed by a cam roller or the like carried by means moving round the cam.

In multi-head continuously rotating glass forming machines, the admission of compressed air for effecting the blowing of the ware in the finishing mould is usually controlled by cam roll levers which operate the admission valves individual to each head or ware forming unit and which pass in turn in the course of revolution of the machineover a stationary cam carried by the central column or other fixed part of the machine.

In order to permit the varying of the incidence and/or the duration of the admission of air for blowing, the cam is sometimes made up of a plurality of relatively short angular sectionswhich can be clamped in various positions around the central column of the machine and which are such that by arranging a greater or a lesser number of the sections in sequence, the duration of the air admission can be varied; L

The even distribution of the glass in the finlie ished bottle or other ware being produced, the

strength of the ware and the rate of production of the ware are dependent, in a large measure, on the accurate control of both the incidence and the duration of the blowing operation both of which must be capable of being widely varied to suit the requirements of varying types of ware.

In the case of a particular shape or size of bottle which may be being manufactured for the first time, the skilled operator knows, from previous experience, in making bottles of somewhat ally stopped while the necessary adjustment to the blow cam sections is made, and a fresh trial made.

' During the time the machine is stopped however, the moulds coolrapidly so that, after restarting, the temperature conditions will have become temporarily unstable and sufficient time must then elapse for the correct temperature conditions to be reestablished, before it is possiblefor the operator to decide whether the-correction he has made is satisfactory. In the case of bottles or ware of a shape or character which offer difficulties, it may be necessary to stop and restart the machine a number of times before a satisfactory setting of the blowing cam is arrived at, and, since all the ware produced in the meantime will probably have been defective in some particular so as to be possibly unsaleable, the loss from this source may be considerable.

Under such circumstances, the operator, conscious of the accumulating loss of ware, may, once he has reached a reasonably satisfactory setting, be inclined to operate his machine so set", rather than stop it again to make some further slight adjustment that he may later recognise as desirable,- though not absolutely necessary.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved form of .adjustable cam that, within the necessary range, is infinitely variable, both as to incidence anddur'ation'of blow, and readily adjustable for either without' trol members co-operating with a flexible mem-.

ber of curved form made up of a plurality of pivotally interconnected sections arranged so that, by the displacement of one or both of the control members, the positions of the sections relatively to the centre of the cam can be varied and means for maintaining the sections in their operative positions. In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into efiect, the same will now be more fully described with ref-,

erence to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of one form of adjustable cam and the operating mechanism therefor produced in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical view partly in section taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary view to a larger scale illustrating the mode of operation of the control members; and

Fig. 4 is a plan detail view of the control members, the right hand portion being a section taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 3.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the cam device is provided with a fixed ring-like member 2 having secured to its upper surface another ring-like member 3 formed with an upwardly extending flange or rib l. Disposed in the L-shaped channel provided by the upper surface of the member and the outer curved surface of the rib 4 is a flexible chain-like member 5 made of a series of pivctally interconnected sections. Alternate sections may consist of a pair of vertically spaced linlrs 8 and 9 provided at their ends with pins H2 and the sections disposed therebetween may consist of single links l2 arranged with their ends extending between the vertically spaced links of the sections disposed at opposite ends of the single link sections, the arrangement being such that the chain. is in effect made up of three superposed sets of pivotally interconnected links. One end of the aforesaid chain-like member is anchored by a screw or other suitable at 5 and the opposite end thereof be connected with one end of a tensioning spring 5% having its other end adjustably fixed to a screw or other suitable means it with the result that the chain-dike member is yieldin ly held the outer curved surface of the upstanding rib On the upper surface of the ring-like member 2 there is also slidebly arranged a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments 2% and 2! which, when brought into abutting relationship as shown in Fig. 1, together form at their outer surfaces a cam track extending outwardly beyond the outer circumference of the member 2 so that a cam roller or other objects moving around the circumference of the member will on reaching this cam track be deflected outwardly and then inwardly again. At their under sides the cam segments are formed with grooves 255 which are shaped as shown in Fig. 4 so that a part 22a thereof follows the contour of the part of the chain-like member bearing against the rib 4 whilst another part 2% follows the contour of the aforesaid cam track, which parts are interconnected by a third and obliquely disposed part 220. Into the said grooves extend the upper ends of the chain-pins H3 so that, by the grooves, a part of the chain-like member is warped or flexed in an outward direction in such a manner that the outer surface of the chain-like member fol lows the contour of, and forms a downward extension of the aforesaid cam. track. It will be observed that the arcuate extent of the cam track afforded by the abutting cam segments 29 and 2! is relatively short. In order that the length of the cam track may be increased and its position may be varied, means is provided for effecting the angular displacement of the cam segments. Also, means is provided for enabling the length of that portion of the chain-like member which is flexed or warped in an outward direction to be increased when the cam segments are separated from one another or moved apart so that a part of the chain-like member will be introduced therebetween in such a position as to form a continuation of the cam track between the separated cam segments.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, the cam segments are provided with downwardly extending portions 24 bearing at their lower ends upon the upper surface of the ring-like member 2 whilst the outer curved surface of the said downwardly extending portion bears against the inner surface of the upwardly extending rib 4. Also, at its lower end the downwardly extending portion is provided with an inwardly directed flange 25 extending beneath a flanged ring 26 secured to the upper surface of the ring-like member 2 adjacent its periphery. Thus the rib 4, the ringlike. member 2 and the flanged ring 26 form between them an arcuate guide channel for the downwardly extending portions 24 of the cam segments so that the latter can be displaced angularly about the centre of the ring-like member 2.

The ring-like member 2 is also provided with a series of upstanding latches or pins 30 arranged so that they are spaced along the outer surface of the chain-like member 5, said latches or pins being vertically displaceable and being normally yieldingly held in positions with their upper. ends projecting above the upper surface of the ringlike member 2, For this purpose, another ringlike member 32 is secured in position beneath the member 2 and the latches or pins are spring pressed in an upward direction by springs 34 accommodated in aligned openings formed in the members 2 and 32. The cam segments extend outwardly over the pins 30 and, in order to permit a part of the chain like member to be deflected outwardly to form a part of the cam track, the cam segments are provided with means for depressing the latches or pins 30 over which they extend. For this purpose, each cam segment is provided with a downwardly extending rib 35 arranged over a line joining the centres of the latches or pins 30, said ribs being, as shown in Fig. 3 chamfered at their ends and being formed so that they are adapted to depress the pins with which they engage to an extent sulficient to bring the upper ends of the pins flush with the upper surface of the member 3. Hence, it will be seen that the pins 30 not disposed beneath the cam segments will project upwardly and lie along the outer surface of the chain-like member and those disposed beneath the cam segments will be depressed so as not to interfere with the warping of the chain-like member in this region.

It will also be seen that in displacing the cam segments angularly about the centre of the ringlike member 2, the chamfered ends of the ribs 35 will serve to depress the pins 3!! encountered during the displacement and the grooves 22 will effect the warping of the portions of the chainlike member over which the cam segments move. In instances in which the position of the aforesaid cam track is required to be varied, the two abutting cam segments may be moved together into a new position (e. g. into the position indicated by the chain-dotted lines 4B in Fig. 1) and, under these conditions, a different part of the length of the chain-like member, namely, the

part disposed beneath the cam segments, will be warped or deflected outwardly. Where, however, the arcuate length of the cam track is required to be increased, one or both of the cam segments may be moved to separate the same and, under these conditions, the, pins 30 located between the segments will be raised by their springs 34 to bring the same into position on the inner surface of the warped or deflected portion of the chainlike member thus serving to maintain the part of the warped portion not disposed beneath the cam segments in such av position as to form a continuation of the cam track (as is shown in Fig. 4).

In order to facilitate the angular displacement of the cam segments, each may, if desired, be provided with an upwardly projecting pin 42 and the said pins may be secured one to each of a pair of radially disposed arms 43 and 44 mounted for movement around the centre of the member 2. For example, the arm 44 may be carried by a centrally disposed spindle 46 provided at its upper end with an operating lever and the arm 43 may be carried by a sleeve 48 mounted loosely on the spindle 46, said sleeve being provided at its upper end with an operating lever 49. Preferably, each of the aforesaid operating levers is provided with a suitable form of locking means such as a locking pin 59 arranged for engagement with suitable radially disposed openings formed in the curved peripheral surface of a fixed sector As mentioned above, the improved form of adjustable cam produced in accordance with the present invention is of general use but is more particularly applicable for use with forming machines for glassware for enabling variations of the incidence and/or of the duration of the admission of air for blowing to be effected. In this connection it will be appreciated that the adjustments of the cam track may be effected whilst the cam roller or'other object is moving relatively thereto and that, consequently, as far as glass forming machines are concerned, the adjustments of the time and period of blowingmay be made without stopping the machine.

, Having thus described my said invention what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An adjustable cam comprising a support,- a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments on said support adapted tobe moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion, of increased radius and a low portion of reduced radius connected by an inclined portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, a flexible member positioned ciroumferentially about the axis of the cam segments within a radius less than that of the low portions of the segments, and means carried by said cam segments for deflecting the flexible member outwardly to coincide with the high portions of the segments.

2. An adjustable cam comprising a support, a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments on said support adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion of increased radius and a low portion of reduced radius connected by an inclined portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, a flexible member positioned circumferentially about the axis of the cam segments within a radius less than that of the low portions of the segments, means carried by said cam segments for deflecting the flexible member outwardly to coincide with the high portions of the segments, and means operable upon separation of the cam segments to engage the inner side of the outwardly deflected flexible member extending between the segments to prevent movement of the flexible member toward the-axis of the cam segments.

3. An adjustable cam comprising a support, a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments on said support adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion of increased radius and a low portion of reduced radius connected by an inclined portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, a flexible member positioned circumferentially about the axis of the cam segments within a radius less than that of the low portions of the segments, releasable means preventing outward movement of the flexible member, means carried by the cam segments for releasing the releasable means to permit outward movement of the flexible member, and guide means carried by the cam segments for deflecting the flexible member outwardly beyond the releasable means to coincide with the high portions/of the segments, the releasable means betweenthe segments lying on the inner side of the flexible member to block inward movement of the flexible member.

4. A cam of the character described comprising a disc-like member the outer periphery of which serves as a cam track, a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments mounted on said disolike member adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion of a radius greater than that of the disc, a low portion of a radius less than that of the disc and an inclined connecting portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, a flexible member lying on the disc within the periphery thereof, a plurality of blocking elements carried by said disc on the outside of said flexible member, said blocking elements being depressible into the disc, yielding means urging said blocking elements into blocking position, means carried by the cam segments for depressing the blocking elements, and guide means carried by the cam segments for deflecting the flexible member outwardly beyond the blocking elements to coincide with and form a continuation of the high portions of the cam segments when the latter are moved apart, the

blocking elements between the spaced segments being in operative position on the inside of the flexible member to prevent inward movement of the latter.

5. A cam of the character described comprising a disc-like member the outer periphery of which serves as a cam track, a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments mounted on said disc-like member adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion of a radius greater than that of the disc, a low portion of a radius less than that of the disc and an inclined connecting portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, a flexible member lying .on the disc within the periphery thereof, a plurality of biocking elements carried by said disc on the outside of said flexible member, said blocking elements being depressible into the disc, yielding means urging said blocking elements into blocking position, means carried by the cam segments for depressing the blocking elements, guide means carried by the camv segments for deflecting the flexible member outwardly beyond the blocking elements to coincide with and form a continuation of the high portions of the cam segments when the latter are moved apart, the blocking elements between the spaced segments being in operative position on the inside of the flexible member to prevent inward movement of the latter, means for anchoring one end of the flexible member to the disc, and means for yieldingly connecting the other end of said flexible member to the disc.

6. A cam of the character described comprising a disc-like member the outer periphery of which serves as a cam track, a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments mounted on said disc like member adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion of a radius greater than that of the disc, a low portion of a radius less than that of the disc and an inclined connecting portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, an upwardly extending flange on said disc spaced inwardly from the periphery thereof, a pivoted link chain lying on said disc outwardly of and against said flange, a plurality of blocking elements carried by said disc on the outside of said flexible member, said blocking elements being depressible into the disc, yielding means urging said blocking elements into blocking position, means carried by the cam segments for depressing the blocking elements, and guide means carried by the cam segments for deflecting the chain outwardly beyond the blocking elements to coincide with and form a continuation of the high portions of the cam segments when the latter are moved apart, the blocking elements between the spaced segments being in operative position on the inside of the chain to prevent inward movement of the latter.

7. A cam of the character described comprising a disc-like member the outer periphery of which serves as a cam track, a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments mounted on said disclike member adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion of a radius greater than that of the disc, a low portion of a radius less than that of the disc and an inclined connecting portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, an upwardly extending flange on said disc spaced inwardly from the periphery thereof, a pivoted link chain lying on said disc outwardly of and against said flange, a plurality of blocking elements carried by said disc on the outside of said flexible member, said blocking elements being depressible into the disc, yielding means urging said blocking elements into blocking position, means carried by the cam segments for depressing the blocking elements, the pivots of said chain projecting upwardly, and guide means carried by the underside of the segments for engaging the chain pivots and displacing the chain outwardly beyond the blocking elements to coincide with and form a continuation of the high portions of the cam segments when the latter are moved apart, the blocking elements between the spaced segments being in operative position on the inside of the chain to prevent inward movement of the latter.

8. A cam of the character described comprising a disc-like member the outer periphery of which serves as a cam track, a pair of angularly displaceable cam segments mounted on said disclike member adapted to be moved toward and away from each other, each of said segments having a high portion of a radius greater than that of the disc, a low portion of a radius less than that of the disc and an inclined connecting portion, the high portions of the segments being juxtaposed, an upwardly extending flange on said disc spaced inwardly from the periphery thereof, a pivoted link chain lying on said disc outwardly of and against said flange, a plurality of blocking elements carried by said disc on the outside of said flexible member, said blocking elements being depressible into the disc, yielding means urging said blocking elements into blocking position, means carried by the cam segments for depressing the blocking elements, the pivots of said chain projecting upwardly, guide means carried by. the underside of the segments for engaging the chain pivots and displacing the chain outwardly beyond the blocking elements to coincide with and form a continuation of the high portions of the cam segments when the latter are moved apart, the blocking elements between the spaced segments being in operative position on the inside of the chain to prevent inward movement of the latter, means for anchoring one end of the chain to the disc, and means for yieldingly connecting the other end of chain to the disc.

EDGAR. PHILIP DORMAN.- 

